WEST HAVEN, Weber County — Three teenage boys broke into an auto repair yard over the weekend and had their own demolition derby, causing more than $225,000 in damage, police said Monday.
The trio, between 14 and 16 years old, is suspected of cutting a fence at B&R Auto Repair, 2363 S. 1900 West in West Haven, on Thursday and sneaking in to burglarize cars, Weber County Sheriff's Lt. Lane Findlay said. That's when they found several sets of keys.
"They proceeded to drive those cars and trucks around — ramming, crashing and smashing into other cars that were parked around the lot," Findlay said. "I've never seen anything like that."
In all, 31 vehicles were damaged with costs estimated at $225,000 and still climbing. Some of the vehicles are totaled beyond repair.
"We just feel bad for the owners of all these vehicles and, of course, the business owner," Findlay said. "To see the extensive damage that was caused, it just makes you sick."
The teens were out on spring break and are not believed to have any connection to the business.
While a few of the vehicles damaged in the rampage belonged to the shop's owner, most of them had been brought in by customers for body work. Some vehicles had already been repaired and just needed to be picked up, Findlay said.
One of the teens returned Friday evening with other friends for "heat number two" of the demolition derby and was detained by an employee, Findlay said. The remaining two boys were located when deputies responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle in the area and found them at the yard.
The boys had apparently returned with two other friends and cut the fence again to get back to the damaged cars, Findlay said.
"We think that what happened is that they probably went back bragging to their friends, talking about what had happened, and then proceeded to try to come back and do the same thing again," Findlay said. "Fortunately they were apprehended before they could really do any more damage."
The teens attempted to flee in their car, which investigators determined had been stolen from Roy, but were stopped by police.
In total, six teenagers from Weber County are facing possible criminal trespassing charges. The three boys believed to be responsible for the damage are also under investigation for criminal mischief charges, a possible felony, and vehicular burglary, Findlay said.
The teens have all been released to their parents.
The owners of B&R Auto Repair declined to comment about the incident.
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